Switch receptacle



June 5, 1928.

H. HUBBELL SWITCH RECEPTACLE 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Dec. 30, 1925INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

June 5.- 1928,

H. HUBBELL SWITCH RECEPTACLE Filed Dec. so, 1925 --2 S heet.s--Sheet 2INVENTOR.

BY j

I ATTORNEYS Patented June 5, 1928.

UNITED I STATES 1,672,219 PATENT OFFICE.

HARVEY HUIBBELL, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT; LOUIE E. HUBBELL EXECUTRIXOF SAID HARVEY HUBBELL, DECEASED.

SWITCH RECEPTACLE.

Application filed December 30, 1925. Serial No. 78,417.

This invention relates to a combination electrical switch andreceptacle, especially for use in wall outlet boxes, and has for anobject to provide a device of this character in which the switch andreceptacle are so constructed and arranged that the device may be usedeither as a switch, as'a receptacle, or both together. Another object ofthe invention is to provide a device of this character in which themechanism of a switch and a receptacle may be mounted in a one gangoutlet box, thus requiring less space and not requiring the installationof a two gang box for mounting of the two devices as in the usualconstruction.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device in whichmovements of the receptacle body will operate the switch mechanism, andin which the switch may be so wired as to control the current to thereceptacle contacts or a separate circuit as desired.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, I have devised theconstruction illustrated'in the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, similar reference characters being employedthroughout the various figures to indicate corresponding elements. Inthese drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the device.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section substantially on line 22 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of thedevice.

Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of the commu- "tator segments and thecontacts cooperating therewith.

Fig. 5 is a side elevationthereof looking from the right of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail section substantially on line 66 of Fig. 7 showingthe relative position of the operating spring when the actuat ing memberis at rest, and also showing the stops for the actuating member.

Fig. 7 is a vertical'central section through the switch mechanism andthe body of the receptacle, the switch being in the open position.

Fig. 8 is a detail plan of the spring release mechanism at rest.

Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the release mechanism ready to release.

Fig. 10 shows the release mechanism in the released and trippedposition.

Fig. 11 shows the relation between the contact blades, releasemechanisms and stops.

Fig. 12 shows the relation between the operating spring, the actuatingmember, release mechanism and stops in released and tripped position,the plane of the section being substantially on line 12-12 of Fig. 7,and

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatical view showing how the device may be wired sothat theswitch may control the current to the receptacle contacts orthese contacts may be left permanently in, the power circuit and theswitch used to control a separate device.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3, the device as illustratedcomprises an insulating block 15 in which the elements of the mechanismare mounted, this block being open at its rear side to facilitateassembly of the various parts and allow easy access thereto, and at thefront side of this block are mounted the yoke sections 16 having theusual slots 17 by which they may be mounted in the standard wall outletbox, not shown, these yoke sections being secured to the block 15 by thescrews 18 extending through the block. These oke sections also havetapped openings for the screws 19 for mounting the face plate 20.

The screws 18 are also used to mount in position a supporting yoke orplate 21 which is secured at the rear end of the block 15. At its frontside the block has a circular flanged portion 22 which extends throughthe face plate and is provided with a circular opening 23 in which theinsulating body member 24 of the receptacle is mounted for relativeturning movements. This receptacle is secured to a shaft 25 mounted inthe plate 21 so that this shaft is rotated by the .body member. In theconstruction shown, a stop plate 26 is mounted on the rear end of thebody member by means of the studs 27 molded in the body-member and thisplate is rigidly secured on the shaft 25. Also carried by this bodymember 24 are apair of metal commutator plates 28 and 29. These platesare insulated from each other, and are preferably substantiallysemi-circular, as shown in Fig. 4, but project beyond the side walls ofthe body member as indicated in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 7. They are insulatedfrom the plate 26 by the insulating members or washers 30. They areinsulated from the studs 27 by the raised portions 31 on the bod memberthrough which. these studs exten and which raised portions project intothe openings 32 in the commutator segments so that these commutatorsections are moved with the body member 24. The body memher is providedwith pockets or recesses 33 in which are mounted receptacle contacts 34and 35, the contact 34 being connected to the of the contact blades ofan attachment plug cap to engage the receptacle contacts in the usualmanner.

Stationary spring brush contacts 37 and 38 are provided engaging theprojecting portions ofthe commutator segments 28 and .29 respectively,and these contacts are connected to the binding posts 39 and 40respectively. The binding post 40 is also connected to a stationaryswitch contact 41, and there is a -second stationary switch contact 42-which isconnected to a third binding screw 43. The two stationary switchcontacts 41 and 42 are arranged to be bridged by a movable switchcontact 44 which is operated by turning movements of the receptacle bodymember'24 through a lock and release mechanism which will now bedescribed. Other lock and release mechanisms may be employed, thespecific lock and release mechamsm illustrated being used merely as anexample as it is not my invention but is the invent-ion of one, Carl M.Petersen, and will be claimed in a separate application.

The specific lock and release mechanism illustrated comprises a pivotedplate or swinging member 45 which carries the movable switch member44.This plate has two diametrically opposite projections one of which formsstopshoulders 47 which are arranged to engage the sides of the stops 48extending inwardly from the sides of the rear supporting plate 21 tolimit the turning movements of this swinging member 45. The otherprojection has shoulders 46 arranged to engage opposite sides of thestop lug 49 on the locking plate 50. This locking plate is mounted forlimited reciprocatory movement on the plate 21, it being guided in thesemovements by means of studs 51 carried by the plate 50 and projectinginto slots 52 in the plate 21. The locking plate 50 is provided with anopening therethrough and has a pair of tapered cam lugs 53 and 54projecting inwardly from the opposite side thereof. Mounted on theshaft. 25 and located within this opening in the locking plate is'a camplate 55. This cam plate has oppositely extending projections 56 and 57,and intermediate these two a larger portion 58 having a curved outeredge 59 which cooperateswith the end of the cam lug 53 and the cam plateis provided with an oppositely curved surface 60 cooperating with theend of the cam lug 54. A coil spring 61 embraces a sleeve 62 on theshaft 25 and its opposite free arms 63 and 64 engage the lugs 65 and 66respectively on the swinging member 45. The plate 26 mounted on the rearend of the body member 24 is also provided with lugs 67 and 68 which areadapted to engage the spring arms 63 and 64 respectively for winding ortensioning the spring as the body member 24 is given its turningmovements. The plate 26 carried by the body member 24 is still furtherprovided with stop lugs 69 and 70 which are adapted to engage the-stops48 of the rear plate 21 to limit the turning movements of the bodymember 24.

The operation is as follows: Assume the elements are in the positionshown in Figs. 6 and 8,- which is the normal position at rest, it beingunderstood, of course, that in this position the switch may be either Onor CE depending upon the relative mounting of the movable and stationaryswitch contacts. If now the body member 24 of the receptacle is given apartial revolution or turning movement to the right or clockwise asviewed in these'figures and as indicated by the arrow, it will beapparent that the locking plate 50 will be held stationary by engagementof the lugs 53 and 54 with the concentric curved surfaces 59 and 60respectively, until the shaft has made nearly a quarter revolution whenthe wall 71 of the lug 56 will engage the inclined wall of the lug 54and will slide the locking plate 50 downwardly a short distance, theupper lug 53 going into the notch 72. The elements are now substantiallyin the position shown in Fig. 9 and the locking plate 50 still locks theswinging member 45 against movement by engagement of the shouder 46 withthe stop lug 49-on the locking plate 50. During this movement the lug 67on the plate 26 secured to the body member 24 engages the arm 63 of thespring and forces it away from the lug 65 and will wind the springbecause the other 'arm 64 will be held by the lug 66. The spring is nowwound and a slightly further turning movement of the body member in thesame direction will move the locking plate 50 to the position shown inFig. 10 and will release the swinging pate 45 which will immediately beswung by the arm 64 of the spring to the position shown in Fig. 12.

The shoulder 47 on the swinging plate will operation will take laceexcept that it will be reversed and in t e opposite direction to bringthe elements back to the position shown in Figs. 6 and 8.

It will be apparent that during these turning movements of the bodymember 24 the brush'contacts will each remain in engagement with theirrespective commutator plate sections 28 and 29 so that the receptaclecontacts 34 and 35 will always remain in electrical connection with thebinding posts 39 and 40 respectively, and therefore, if the leads 73, 74(Fig. 13) from the source of current supply are connected to bindingposts 39 and 40, it will be apparent the receptacle contacts 34 and 35are directly connected with the leads 73 and 74, and the switch 44 willhave no effect on the supply of current to these contacts, andtherefore, any other device, as a light 75, may be wired to becontrolled by this switch by merely connecting its leads 76 and 77 tothe binding posts 43 and 39 respectively. If, however, it is desired tocontrol the current to the receptacle contacts 34 and 35 by means of theswitch 44 and thus to control the attachment 7 8 by the switch, the lead74 will be connected to the binding post 43 instead of the binding post40, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 13. It will now be apparent thatthe switch will control the current to the receptacle contacts.

For the purposes of manipulation, the body member 24 is preferablyprovided with a flange 79 forwardly of the 'face plate pro vided with aknurled edge, which flange provides a convenient grip by which the body,

member may be turned to the right or left to operate the switch. Itwill, therefore, be

apparent that the switch may be operated equally as conveniently whenthere is or there is not a cap inserted in the receptacle.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that I have devised adevice involving a receptacle and a switch in a single compactconstruction which occupies no more space than one of such devicesordinarily reuires, and therefore, withthis arrangement can provide botha switch and a receptacle in a one gang outlet box which is ordinarilyused, for one of such devices only. Furthermore, the elements are soarranged that by mere shifting of a single connection from the powerline the switch may be wired to control the current to this receptacleor to a separate device as desired.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. In an electrical device of the character described, an insulatingbody member mounted for turning movements provided with recesses andopenings in its front wall leading to said recesses for passage of thecontact blades of an attachment plug cap, a movable switch member, alock and release mechanism for operating the switch memher, and meansconnecting the body member with the lock and release mechanism foroperating the said mechanism independently of the cap. 7

2. In an electrical device of the character described, an insulatingblock having a chamber, a receptacle comprising an insulating bodymember mounted for turning movements, in relation to said chamber,receptacle contacts carried by said body arranged to be engaged by thecontacts of an attachment plug cap, said body member having an extension extending forwardly of the front wall of the block providing agrip for turning said member, and a switch mounted in the chamber andconnected to the body member for operation thereby.

3. In an electrical device of the character described, an insulatingblock having a chamber and an opening in its front wall leading to saidchamber, a receptacle comprising an insulating body member mounted forturning movements in said opening and projecting into said chamber, saidbody being provided with a flange forwardly of the block forming a gripfor operating the said member, said member being also provided withrecesses and contact blade openings in its front wall leading to saidrecesses, receptacle contacts in said recesses, and a switch mounted inthe chamber and connected to said body memberfor operation thereby.

4. In an electrical device of the character described an insulatingblock having a chamber, a receptacle comprising an insulating bodymember mounted for turning movements' in relation to said chamber,receptacle contacts carried by said member, a pair of spaced commutatorsegments carried by said body and connected to the receptaclecontactsrespectively, binding posts mounted in the block, brush contacts mountedto engage the respective commutator segments and connected to saidbinding posts, a switch having a movable member and stationary contacts,one of the stationary contacts being connected to one of said bindingposts, a third binding post connected to the carried by said bodymember, a pair of spaced commutator segments carried by said member andeach connected to a receptacle contact,;:a, pair of brush contacts eachengaging a commutator segment, binding posts connected to said brushcontacts, a switch comprising a pair of stationary contacts and amovable contact to bridge the same, one of the stationary contactsbeing, connected to E one of said binding posts, a third binding postconnected to the other switch contact, means for operating the movableswitch contact, and an operative connection from the body member to saidoperating means.

6. In an electrical device of the character described, an insulatingblock having a chamber, a receptacle comprising an insulating bodymember mounted for turning movements in relation to said chamber, saidbody 10 being provided with means forwardly of the block forming a gripfor turning said member, said member being provided'with recesses andopenings in its-front wall leading to said recesses forpassage of thecontact 1 blades of an attachment plug cap, receptacle contacts in saidrecesses, a pair of commutator segments mounted on the body member andconnected to' the respective contacts,

connected to the respective brush ,contacts,

a switch having a pair of stationary contacts and a movable member tobridge sand contacts, one of the stationary contacts being connected toone of said binding posts, a third binding post connected to the otherstationary contact, and an operative connection from the body member tothe movable switch member. 7

In testimony whereof I afiix mysignature.

HARVEY HUBBELL.

